Uncommon Faith

Revenge is a dish best served cold so goes the old saying…

We want justice… we deserve justice says the one who has been violated. And indeed we all agree he should have it.

But why this sense of justice if we are just primordial scum that has evolved from a single cell? Where does it come from?

Why does humanity desire what is right? Especially when we are the offended party, but what about when it’s not us? What about when it’s the other guy and we are the offender? Well that’s a bit of a different story, isn’t it?

The Christian answer is easy, God has created man in His own image, we all have worth and value, we all have the law of God implanted in our being.

For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.  They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel,  God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. Romans 2:14-16

God’s law, written on the hearts of men, provide us with a sense of justice.  We all, inherently know right from wrong.  But it says here they [Gentiles or unbelievers] are a law unto themselves, meaning they do what is right by their own standard.   They don’t judge by God’s law, but by their own law.  They replace the truth for the fallacy of what’s right in their own minds.  Sadly, this will come back down upon their own heads unless they come to a knowledge of the truth.

Remember the context of Romans 2 how Paul instructs us the judgments we use on others will be used right back on top of us by God.

Yes, let us judge others, but with righteous judgment based on the word of God.  May we continue to cry out against injustice, but let us never forget we are the greatest offenders of them all, we have all sinned and denied God’s righteous decree.  We are in need of mercy and the grace of a loving God who will always bring the secret things to account.

Kevin

Philippians 1:29
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

Here is an invitation to join the Christian faith. “Welcome, we have a packet for you in the back and it will outline the ways in which the Christian faith is different than other faiths. It welcomes you to a life of suffering. Are you ready to sign on the dotted line? Please take your free loaf of bread along with you as a special gift.”

Jesus has invited us to suffer are you ready? Are you excited?

Said nobody ever…

The natural proclivity of human beings is self-protection and self-preservation. Why would someone decide suffering is the way to peace, contentment, and joy?

This is why Christianity is supernatural. The God of the universe invades the wicked human heart, sets it aright and changes it for eternity. When a convicted criminal is given a pardon for his crimes he is naturally grateful. When the convert is saved his new affections give him the heart to serve the Lord; he is grateful and willingly pays the cost whatever that might be. Even to death.

Ouch… this is a tough pill to swallow for many, dare I say most, evangelical/cultural Christians. But even more, the word granted carries a deeper meaning than what we might think. It means to grant as a favor, in kindness, as an act of grace.

John Calvin said this about the suffering: “Oh, if this persuasion were effectually wrought in our minds — that persecutions are to be reckoned among God’s benefits, what progress would be made in the doctrine of piety!”

There you go… welcome to Christianity. Have a great ride. Hope to see you back real soon. But don’t delay. The consequences are eternal.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

Kevin

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. –  Genesis 1:1

“There is more in this first verse of the Bible than in 10,000 volumes of men’s invention.” – John Newton

Mankind does not reject God’s truth because of intellect.  A child can read the word of God and comprehend it’s meaning and as Newton goes on to say, “A child that has read the Bible knows more than all the philosophers of old put together.”

That is quite a statement and yet when we consider the foolishness of God is wiser then the wisdom of men, we see that a child reading the Bible has the wisdom of God.  The Bible is a book like none other.

Why do so many reject its claims?

It’s not a difficult concept.  They don’t like what it says, and they reject any sort of demand placed upon them.  They reject an objective truth that holds them accountable and calls them to change.

They or we become the ultimate standard of truth.

In the end, where do you get “truth” without the God of the Bible?  Does it come from your own mind?  Does it come from society?  Does it come from nothing?  Did it evolve?

Do you see the inconsistencies here?  Outside of a Sovereign Absolute, you can only be left with chaos and you cannot claim any sort of a moral standard outside of your own mind.  We’ve seen this down through history, haven’t we?  When the God of the Bible is rejected life is without purpose, there is no ultimate accountability and you can’t, with honesty, say anything is right or wrong.

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  – Romans 1:21

Life is hard…

We know the reality that nobody ever promised smooth sailing.  In fact, I think it’s beneficial to the human condition that struggles are present.  Without struggle apathy and lethargy take its place.  This is not healthy.  I’ve read the trees that make the best violins are the ones that are most battered by winds.  They are also the most difficult to harvest.

What purpose does struggle serve?

For the Christian, its design is to turn us to Christ.  To cause us to see our weaknesses and turn to the One that promises to never leave nor forsake.  This is a great assurance.  It forces us to hope in something that is outside of ourselves.

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Thessalonians 1:3-4

The unbelieving world does not recognize a hope in Christ that the Christian so faithfully relies upon.  It’s a great privilege to place your hope in someone else.  The object of our hope is what is in view here.  One that conquered sin and death.

The struggle is also real for the unbeliever and so they turn to other remedies and more often than not turn to self and self-reliance.  The Christian is to be pitied for his weak and feeble mind, for his belief in “fairy tales” and the like.  Without any real analysis of the truth claims they make and the truth claims the Bible makes.

So today, when you think on your troubles, know they are for your benefit and the Glory of God if you are in Christ.  If not today is the day to turn to Christ.  He is “THE” great hope.

 

Kevin

Have you ever looked at a sunset and said, meh… it’s okay… You look, you turn away and then you don’t ever think about it again?

I’ve done that, and I would imagine you have as well. Of course, not all sunsets are created equal and not all of them hit us in the same way.

For example, we can’t always see them clearly or we aren’t always in an environment to see the horizon. You don’t always have a massive sky such as when viewing it from a mountain or looking across the water.

Scripture is like this sometimes. We read the words and move on. Familiarity breeds contempt or so they say.

But sometimes, it pops… it sets us on our heels and blows our minds.

1 Timothy 4:15
Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.

The interesting thing here is the word practice means to meditate.

“That sunset is amazing…” Let’s sit here for a while and just watch it, think and be amazed at God’s creation.

Yes, do that.

But meditate more deeply and more consistently on the words of life. Never grow bored with the Bible. It beheld in the glory of Christ is far more brilliant than the most amazing sunset you’ll ever see, for the purpose of making your progress evident.

There are many an uncoverted Bible scholar walking around.  Don’t grow for growth’s sake.  Meditate that they know you’ve been with the Lord.

Kevin